Well elevator



1937- R. G. BURLINGAME ET AL 2,070,114

WELL ELEVATOR Filed Feb. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 9, 1937- R. G.BURLINGAME El AL ,070,114

WELL ELEVATOR Filed Feb. 8, 1934 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 9, 1937UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL ELEVATOR Application February 8, 1934,Serial No. 710,304

Claims.

Our invention relates to well elevators and more particularly toelevators having yieldably mounted pipe embracing members for use in therotary method of drilling.

In the rotary method of drilling, rotative force generated at thesurface of the earth is transmitted through a series of detachablyconnected tubes known as drill pipe to the boring apparatus at thebottom of the well hole. These tubes convey mud laden fluid toaccelerate the boring operation and to carry cuttings and debris out ofthe bore hole to the surface. Each of these lengths of drill pipe isprovided with one half of a detachable connection on each end thereof,known as a tool joint.

It is frequently necessary to withdraw the drill pipe from the well borefor the purpose of changing the boring tools. In the withdrawingoperation, the drill pipe is embraced with a lifting device known as anelevator. This elevator is attached to the hoisting apparatus by meansof two bails and a hook. The lifting operation is performed by thecontact of the elevator with the lower-most face of the upper tool jointor coupling.

A multiple, consisting of three or more of the units of drill pipe,known as a stand, is withdrawn from the bore hole, disconnected from thebalance, and transferred to the corner of the drilling rig where it isallowed to remain in an approximately perpendicular position. Thisprocess is repeated until the full string of drill pipe is withdrawnfrom the hole and stood in the rig.

Great speed is necessary in the withdrawing of the drill pipe from thehole and putting it back in place. This speed is needed primarilybecause of the great cost of the boring time lost during the operationand also because of the danger of the well bore caving and theconsequent loss of the bore hole.

To meet this need for speed, power units of considerable horse-power areused.

Because of the heavy weight of the drill pipe and the tendency of it tofreeze in the bore hole, necessitating excessive stresses in freeing it,the elevator itself and the bails and hook by which it is connected tothe hoisting apparatus are all of considerable size and weight.

In re-running the drill pipe into the hole it is customary to put thehoisting apparatus in its high speed position and raise the elevator asrapidly as possible toward the top of the drilling rig. As it approachesthe upper end of the drill pipe stand, a workman engages the elevator onone length of the pipe at some distance below the upper tool jointthereof. The elevator then follows the drill pipe until it engages thelower face of the tool joint and raises the stand off of the derrickfloor, after which it is swung over 5 the hole and lowered into themating-half of the tool joint on the top of the drill pipe already inthe hole to which it is engaged and this portion of the assemblylowered. This process is repeated until the entire string has beenassembled.

In the process of running the pipe as above explained it will be notedthat the drill pipe stand is in a state of rest and that in itself itrepresents a body of considerable weight; it will also be noted that theelevator, the elevator 15 bails, and the hook to which it is attached,represent, in total, a considerable mass of weight and that it is inconsiderable motion at the time it engages the drill pipe by contact ofthe elevator with the tool joint.

Thus it will be seen that the moving mass must set the non-moving massinto motion and that, as both masses are relatively non-yieldable, aconsiderable stress is set up. In as much as the tool joint is fastenedto the drill pipe by means of screw-threads, it follows that this stresscan only be transmitted from the tool joint to the drill pipe by thethreads with which the elements are joined together.

Heretofore, no yieldable means has been used between the two masses tosoften the blow with which the one is struck by the other and therebydistribute the stresses or lengthen the period of time consumed intransferring the one mass from a state of rest to a state of motion.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means within an elevatorfor yieldably engaging the tool joint of a drill pipe.

It is another object of this invention to provide a yieldable element ina pipe elevator which will soften the blow between the elevator and pipecoupling where the one engages the other.

It is a still further and important object of this invention to providean elevator having a pipe embracing and lifting means of relativelysmall mass weight, yieldably mounted in the elevator body, so that theefiect of the great mass of the elevator, the elevator bails, and hookin striking the pipe coupling will be lessened and transmitted bystages.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an elevator for pipeand the like, having yieldably mounted pipe embracing and liftingbushings, having a series of yieldable elements of different capacitieswhich may progressively become active in the process of changing thepipe from a state of non-motion to a state of motion, all of which willbe simple of construction, economical of manufacture, and eifective inoperation.

These and other objects and advantages are accomplished by a certaincombination and relation of parts, the preferred embodiments of whichare disclosed in the following description and in the drawings herewith,wherein like numerals of reference are applied to like parts in allviews, as far as possible, and which description and drawings we give byway of illustration only and not as a limitation thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of the assembly of our elevator;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the bail trunnion, the bail aperture cover, andthe elevator handle;

Fig. 3 is a front view of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1, showing the pipeembracing element and the yieldable mountings;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the left half of the elevator body with the pipeembracing element removed;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of the right half of the elevatorbody;

Fig. '7 is an internal view in elevation of the sections of the elevatorbody in open position;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line VIII- VIII of Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line IX-IX of Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 10 is a View in elevation of one of the pipe embracing elements;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line XI-XI of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the support for the pipe embracingelements;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the aperture cover; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional View of the aperture cover and its lockingdevice, taken on line XIV-XIV of Fig. 2.

Essentially our invention comprises a multiple of interhinged memberswhich, as a unit, form the body indicated as A and A, a series of pipeembracing elements indicated as B and B, a multiple of pipe embracingelements supports indicated as C, a latch-keeper-indicated as D, a latchoperating lever indicated as E, a lug pin indicated as F, a series ofsprings indicated as G, G, G, and a plurality of aperture coversindicated as H and H.

The body members A and A are provided with matched hinges 2|, 2|, and2|, 2|, into which is fitted a hinge pin 23. These bodies A and A areprovided with bail engaging trunnions 24 and 2 3' which are made with agreater length on the side adjacent the hinged portion of the elevatorthan on the side adjacent the front of the elevator. The body members Aand A are provided with extension ridges 21 and 2'! which are providedwith grooves 28 and 28' that cooperate with similar grooves 29-29 in thetrunnions 2% and 2t in receiving the cover plates I-I-H. Thus bail (notshown) receiving apertures 30 and 3B are formed between the trunnions 24and 24' and the extensions 21 and 2?. The cover plates H and H areprovided with tongues 3| and 3|a, and 3| and 3|a for engaging thegrooves 28 and 29 and 28 and 29'. From this construction it is apparentthat as the body parts A and A are moved apart the portion of the frontbails within the apertures 30-30 will also be moved outwardly whichmovement causes the portions of the balls in contact with the elongatedsides of the trunnions to move or slide toward the grooves 29-29 andthus not only permit the body members AA to swing freely to either openor closed position but the trunnions 24-24 may also be rotated withoutinterference with the normal position of the balls.

Each section of the elevator body (A-A) is provided with a latch post20-20 (Fig. 3) which is adapted to be received within the opening 34 ofthe latch keeper D for locking the elements of the elevator together.The latch keeper D which is carried by the hinge lugs 32, 32 on the bodypart A has its rear face adjacent the body part A, beveled for thepurpose of cooperating with a beveled face 36 on the latch post 20 asthe body parts A-A are moved to their closed position. Thus it will beseen that as the elevator body parts A and A swing together, the beveledface of the latch keeper will come in contact with the bevel 36 and as aresult, the latch keeper D is swung outwardly at its lower end,permitting the latch posts 20 and 20 to come together so that theopening 34 of the latch keeper may close over them, and thus lock theelevator body in closed position.

In order that the apertured end of the latch keeper D will drop over theposts 20-20 as soon as they come together, the latch keeper is providedwith an upwardly extending portion 3! which is engaged by a springpressed pin F that is positioned in a pocket 38 (Fig. 5) in the elevatorbody A. The pin F is pressed forward to exert a pressure on extension3'! by the spring 39. To open the latch keeper D, a crank arm handle E(Fig. 1) is hingeably mounted between the hinge bosses 40, 40 (Fig. 3)on body member A and has an arm 4| extending behind the latch keeper D.A stop 42 on the crank arm limits the travel of the handle E. Thus itwill be seen that when the operator grasps the handle E and a stationaryhandle 43 on the body part A in an effort to open the body members A andA, the arm 4| moves the latch keeper D outwardly against the pressure ofthe pin F on the portion 37 and the opening 34 is thereby disengagedfrom the latch posts 20 and 20, permitting the elevator to swing to openposition.

Each of the body members A-A is provided with a short concave inner wall44-44 at its lower end which is essentially one half a circle of theproper size for embracing the pipe. The balance of the inner surface65-45 is semi-circular in shape but on a somewhat larger radius than thesurface 44-44, thus resulting in a shoulder 16- 36 (Figs. 5, 6, and '7)being formed between the two surfaces A l-4Q and 45-45.

Each of the surfaces 45-45 has a pair of vertically extending recessesor guide-ways 41-41, lT- l'l therein which terminate at their lower endssome distance above the shoulders 46-46. The lower ends of theguide-ways 41-41, 4'|4T also open into spring pockets 48-48, 48- |8which extend downward to a point of elevation approximately the same asthe shoulder 46 (Fig. 4)

Each of the pipe embracing elements B-B is provided with a semi-circularinterior 49-49 for a short distance at its upper end (Figs. 4 and 10)which is of proper size to cooperate with the drill pipe while belowthis point the interior surface is of semi-circular form. as shown at50-53 (Fig. 9), and of slightly greater radius than the semi-circle49-49. The uppermost portions of the members B-B' are provided withshoulders 5i-5l respectively for engaging the lower portion of the pipecoupling. The exterior surface of each of the members B-B is ofsemi-circular form which cooperates with the semi-circular 'interiors45-45 of body members A-A', and

guides 53-53 and 53-53 are formed thereon which cooperate withguide-ways 41-41 and 4'V-41 of the body A-A in such a way as to permitthe up and down motion of the elements B-B without permitting inwardmovement (Fig. 9). Each of these guides 53-53 and 53-53 terminates in aconcave surface 54-54 and 54-54 20 as not to close the spring pockets48-48 and The lower portion of each of the elements B-B terminates in asquare face 55 which contacts the shoulder 46-46 of the body member A-Ain such a way as to limit its downward travel and the upper portion ofeach of said elements B-B has an exterior collar 56-56 which cooperateswith the support elements C.

The support member C (Fig. 12) is made in the form of the letter D, andhas a concave wall which engages the exterior surface of the elementsB-B and a convex surface shaped to slidingly engage the rear wall of oneof the recesses or guide-ways 41-41 or 41-4'l. The upper end of themember C is recessed, forming a shoulder 59 thereon which engages theunderside of the collar 56-56 on the element 13-13 and supports it onthe body A-A.

A series of springs G, G, and G (Fig. 4) and spring washers 63 and 64are nested within each of the spring pockets 48-48 and 48-48 (Fig. l)which are held in place by a vertically extend ng bolt 65 and nut 66that secures the member C to the body A-A. In assembling, the springs G,G, and G" are put in place in the pockets 48-48 and 48'-48 after themembers B-B have been placed within the members A-A but not loweredcompletely, and before the parts C are put in place. A support member Cis then put in place in each of the guide-ways 41-41 and 4l'-41' and theparts B-B are lowered into contact with the shoulders 59, after whichthe bolt 65 is inserted, locking the parts in proper assembledrelationship. In order to guard against the loss of bolt 65, the headthereof is inserted in the pocket 61 where it may be welded in place.The collars 56-56 on the elements B-B may also be welded to the supportsC.

In order to facilitate the removal of the elevator bails (not shown)from the trunnions 24, 24', the aperture covers I-I-H are held in placeby spring lock assemblies 16-18 which cooperate with arcuate notches 68and 68 in the plates I-I-H (Figs. 2 and 13) Each of the spring lockassemblies Ill-T comprise a lock pin H which is threaded into the bodypart A-A and a sleeve 12 which is slidably mounted on the pin H and isyieldably held in its locking position by a spring 13 positioned betweenthe pin H and the sleeve 12.

The sleeve T2 of each of the locking pin assemblies Ill-Ill engagesnotches 68, 68' of aperture covers H, H in such a way as to prevent thecover plate from rotating about trunnion 24, 24 and from abandoning itsfunctional position but the pulling of the sleeves 12 outwardly movesthe sleeves beyond the notches 68-68 and leaves the plates H-H' free tobe rotated and removed.

It will be noted that the yieldable elements B-B are provided with anassembly of compression springs G, of minimum capacity (Fig. 4) G, ofmedium capacity, and G" of maximum capacity; and consequently, as theshoulders l-5 l come in contact with the coupling of the drill pipe (notshown), the spring G collapses, thereby transmitting to the drill pipean amount of force equivalent to the compacity of the spring G; afterwhich the spring G collapses, transmitting to the drill pipe a forceequivalent to the compacity of the spring G; after which the spring Gcollapses, transmitting to the drill pipe an amount of force equal tothe compacity of the spring G; and upon complete collapsing of thesprings in the assembly, the square faces 55-55 of the elements B-B cometo rest on the shoulders 46-46 of the members A-A. It will be seen thata considerable change in the rate of speed of transferring the stand ofdrill pipe from a state of rest to a state of stress and motion hastaken place, and that the stand of drill pipe is set in motion much moreslowly than when the coupling thereof has been struck by the heavy massof the usual solid elevator, bails, and hook.

It will be noted that the lug pin F (Fig. 5) whose inner end extendsinto the recess 41 and contacts the support member 0 (Fig. 12) which hasa grooved or cut away portion therein adjacent to lug pin F as shown at14 and as the members of the elevator are telescoped together under thepipe load, the upper portion of this groove 14 presses against pin F andforces it outwardly against upper extension 31 of the latchkeeper, whichin turn causes the lower-most extension of latch-keeper D to lockinglyengage latch posts 20, 20. When the elevator is free from load, theparts thereof are expanded and the groove or cut away portion 14 is inposition to receive the lug pin F as it moves inwardly on the operationof the latch-keeper D. Thus it will be seen that the latch-keeper D isalways looked in place when the elevator is under load, and that it isalways capable of being operated when the elevator is not under load andthe parts of the elevator are in their expanded positions.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that when the stands ofdrill pipe are to be picked up and lowered into the well, the elevatorwhich is moving upwardly at a relatively high speed, is snapped aroundthe uppermost section of drill pipe stand and as it continues upward theshoulders 5l-5I' on the pipe embracing members 3-3 are brought intocontact with the upper tool joint which causes those members to come torest, and since the mass weight of the elevator body, the bails, etc.,is continuing upwardly the springs G, G, and G" will be successivelycompressed in changing the stand of pipe from a state of rest to a stateof motion, and as a result the blow between the fast moving elevator andthe pipe coupling will be considerably dampened or softened andmaterially decrease the stress set up at that point and consequently,increase the life of the drill pipe.

We do not desire to be understood as limiting ourselves to the specificprovision, construction, formation, and association of parts, members,and features shown and described; but we reserve the right to vary thedesign of the yieldable elements and other parts in adapting theimprovements to varying conditions of use without departing from thespirit of the invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An improved well elevator for lifting a stand of drill pipe or casingcomprising a pair of hinged jaw members each having a semi-cylindricalbore therein adapted when said jaws are closed, to form with the othersemi-cylindrical recess a cylindrical bore extending longitudinally ofsaid jaws and each semi-cylindrical bore having a vertical slot therein,a non-gripping pipe embracing member fitted in each such recess andhaving a guide formed on the jaw side thereof and fitting into said slotfor holding said pipe embracing members against transverse movementwhile permitting vertical movement thereof, and compressible loadcarrying means disposed in said slots between said pipe embracing memberand said jaw member arranged to transmit a progressively increasingmotive force to the pipe as the elevator is brought into contacttherewith.

2. An improved well elevator comprising a pair of hinged jaw memberseach having a semicylindrical recess therein adapted when said jaws areclosed, to form a cylindrical, longitudinally extending boretherethrough and each of said semi-cylindrical recesses having aplurality of slots therein, a semi-cylindrical pipe embracing memberfitted within each of said semi-cylindrical recesses and having radiallyextending guides on the jaw side thereof adapted tobe received in saidslots for holding said pipe embracing members against transversemovement relative to said jaw members while permitting longitudinalmovement thereof, and yieldable load carrying means disposed in saidslots between said pipe embracing member and said jaws for carrying theload and for cushioning the shock occasioned by the movement of saidpipe embracing elements into contact with a section of pipe.

3. An elevator for lifting sections of drill pipe or casing comprisingmultiple jaw members having their ends hinged together and provided withvertically extending spaced pockets, a semicylindrical pipe embracingmember mounted for relative vertical movement on each of said jawmembers, guides on said pipe embracing members slidably mounted in saidpockets and having concaved ends, a shoulder on each pipe embracingmember, a series of supporting members for said pipe embracing membersmovably mounted in the pockets in said jaw members and having recessestherein for receiving the shoulders on said pipe embracing members andmeans adjacent the concaved ends of said guides for yieldingly mountingsaid supporting members in said pockets including a series ofsuperimposed springs increasing in capacity from top to bottom whereby aprogressively increasing motive force is transmitted to the pipe as theelevator is brought into contact therewith.

4. An elevator for lifting sections of drill pipe or casing comprisingmultiple jaw members having their ends hinged together and each having aconcave surface provided with a plurality of spaced pockets, asemi-cylindrical pipe embracing member movably mounted adjacent theconcave surface of each jaw member and having guides slidable in saidpockets, a shoulder on each pipe embracing element projecting over thebody of its respective jaw member and spaced above said guides, a seriesof vertically movable supporting members mounted in the annular spacedpockets in said jaw members, each of said supporting members having arecess in the outer face thereof for receiving the shoulders on saidpipe embracing elements, and means for yieldingly supporting saidmembers in said pockets said means being adapted to transmit aprogressively increasing motive force to the pipe as the elevator isbrought into lifting engagement therewith.

5. A well elevator for lifting stands of drill pipe or casing comprisinghinged jaw members each having a semi-cylindrical recess therein adaptedwhen said jaws are closed to form with the other semi-cylindricalrecess, a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore, a non-gripping pipeembracing member fitted in each of said semicylindrical recesses andslidable in a vertical path and yieldable load carrying means betweensaid pipe embracing members and said jaw members adapted to yield inproportion to the weight of the load carried thereby.

6. A well elevator for lifting stands of drill pipe or casing comprisinghinged jaw members each having a semi-cylindrical recess therein adaptedwhen closed to provide a longitudinally extending cylindrical boretherethrough, a substantially semi-cylindrical liner slidable in avertical path adjacent the recess of each of said jaw members, yieldableload carrying members positioned between said jaw members and saidliners and adapted to yield in proportion to the weight of the loadcarried thereby and an inwardiy projecting shoulder at the bottom ofsaid recess on each of said jaw members for limiting the downwardmovement of said liners.

7. A well elevator for lifting stands of drill pipe or casing comprisinga pair of hinged jaw members each having a semi-cylindrical recesstherein adapted, when said jaws are closed, to form with the otherrecess a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore therethrough, asemicylindrical non-gripping pipe embracing member mounted to slide in avertical path in the recess of each jaw member, means on each of saidjaw members for limiting the downward movement of said pipe embracingmembers and load carrying means between said pipe embracing members andsaid jaw members adapted to yield in proportion to the weight of theload carried thereby and having sufficient capacity to support the loadof one stand of such pipe without yielding to the full extent.

8. A well elevator comprising a body having a cylindrical longitudinallyextending bore therethrough having a series of spaced vertical extendingslots therein, a non-gripping pipe embracing member fitted within thebore of said body and having lugs on the jaw side thereof projectinginto said slots whereby transverse movement of said pipe embracingmember is prevented while permitting free longitudinal movement thereofand load carrying springs of sufiicient capacity to carry the load of atleast one such stand of pipe mounted in said slots.

9. A well elevator for lifting stands of drill pipe or casing comprisinga hinged body section having, when closed, a cylindrical longitudinallyextending bore therethrough, a non-gripping pipe embracing member fittedwithin said bore, means for holding said pipe embracing member againsttransverse movement while permitting longitudinal movement thereof andyieldable load carrying means between said pipe embracing member andsaid body adapted to yield in proportion to the weight of the loadcarried thereby and having sufficient capacity to support the load of atleast one such stand whereby the stand floats freely on said means.

10. A well elevator for lifting stands of drill pipe or casingcomprising a hinged elevator body having, when closed, a cylindricallongitudinally extending bore therethrough, a liner fitted within thebore of said body, means for holding said liner against transversemovement while permitting longitudinal movement thereof, load carryingmeans between said liner and said body adapted to yield in proportion tothe weight of the load carried thereby and having sufficient capacity tocarry the load of at least one such stand in suspension thereon, andmeans on said body adapted to engage and limit the downward movement ofsaid liner when the load on said carrying means exceeds one such stand.

11. A well elevator for lifting stands of drill pipe or casingcomprising a hinged body having, when closed, a cylindrical boretherethrough, each section of which is provided with spaced closed endedvertically extending slots therein, a semi-cylindrical liner disposed inthe bore of each section of the bore in each body and having radiallyprojecting lugs on their bore engaging surfaces which project into theslots therein and hold said liners against transverse movement relativeto said body while permitting longitudinal movement thereof, a memberslidably mounted in each of said slots and supported on the lugs on saidliners, means for engaging and limiting the downward movement of saidliners and the members carried on the lugs thereof, and a load carryingspring disposed in each of said slots between the closed end thereof andsaid members adapted to yield in proportion to the weight of the loadcarried thereby.

12. A well elevator for lifting stands of pipe comprising a hinged bodyportion having a cylindrical bore therethrough, a non-gripping pipeencircling element slidable in a vertical path within said bore, and ayieldable load carrying member between said body and said pipe embracingelement.

13. A well elevator for lifting either one or more stands of drill pipeand the like comprising a hinged body portion having a cylindrical boretherethrough, a non-gripping pipe encircling member slidable in avertical path within said bore, yieldable load carrying means betweensaid body and said pipe encircling member and having sufficient capacityto carry in suspension the load of at least one such stand, and means onsaid body adapted to engage and limit the movement of said pipeencircling member when the load being raised exceeds one such stand.

14. A well elevator for lifting sections of drill pipe or casing,comprising opposed jaws hinged together and each provided with asubstantially cylindrical recess adapted when said jaws are closed toform with the other cylindrical recess a cylindrical bore extendinglongitudinally of said jaws and each having a closed end slot formedtherein and extending longitudinally of said jaws, a semi-cylindricalpipe embracing member fitted into each such recess and having asubstantially radially extending lug formed on the jaw side thereof andfitting into said slot, and a load supporting member within said slotand located between the end thereof and yieldable in the direction ofsaid slot in proportion to the load supported by said load carryingmember.

15. A well elevator comprising a hinged body portion having acylindrical bore therethrough, opposed pipe encircling elements fittedinto said bore and movable longitudinally thereof, means for holdingsaid elements against transverse movement with relation to said body,and a yieldable load carrying member between each such element and saidbody.

ROBERT G. BURLINGAME. JOHN M. CLAMPITT.

